Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has criticized Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while still belonging to their previous parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), respectively.
Keyamo argues that belonging to two political parties simultaneously is unconstitutional.
Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi recently joined forces under the ADC to challenge President Bola Tinubu and his ruling party in the 2027 elections.
This move aims to create a united opposition front, as they believe their combined strength could lead to better electoral outcomes .
The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria stipulates that an individual cannot belong to more than one political party at a time.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for ensuring compliance with this provision.
If Atiku and Obi’s party memberships are deemed unconstitutional, it could impact their eligibility to run under the ADC banner.
This development has sparked debate about the legitimacy of Atiku and Obi’s dual party memberships.
If INEC intervenes, it could lead to Party Infighting, potential internal conflicts within the ADC, PDP, and LP.
Possible disqualification of Atiku and Obi from the 2027 elections.
A ruling on this matter could set a precedent for future cases involving dual party memberships.
According to him, open alignment with the ADC by leading opposition figures, many of whom are still officially members of other parties, amounts to a breach of electoral law.
